Anna Blake It’s a sight to see. Usually, a huge bearded man and a tiny Chihuahua. Sometimes a blue-haired lady and a miniature poodle with pastel bows on her ears. They’re both holding their dog like a baby cradled in their arms. I’m not gonna repeat the inhospitable thoughts I have had about that sort of person … Read more
This week I went to dinner at a sports bar. I’m not the type, but there are no fine dining choices unless we drive into town. Two of the big screens had rodeo on them. There was a rope horse who got some rough handling when he refused to back into the box. The horse … Read more
I have kept this blog free of politics because I want a place we can come together, beyond social media and the news cycle. I am also a proud American who can no longer stand by. We need more than ‘thoughts and prayers.’ Surely it is time that we all stand together, regardless of personal politics, … Read more
Just a reminder, dear reader. I’m a horse trainer using all I know to raise a puppy. If your horse’s trainer uses methods that would be bad for a dog, please reconsider. It gets worse. I’m a horse trainer who believes we should train donkeys as a prerequisite to horses. Donkeys demand special skills that … Read more
Jolene says, hurry up, would ya? I am not dawdling. I’m getting my hearing aids, looking for my outside glasses and the remote mic. It’s Thursday. She has her harness on, and that means something. I’ll tell you what that harness means to me. It’s her eighth harness and the most expensive one. Also, the … Read more
Last week I raved about my beautiful but desolate riding arena at the front of my little farm. My other favorite place is the pond at the very back of my farm. Waterfront property on the high desert prairie of Colorado was a major selling point when I chose this dilapidated farm. It’s fed by … Read more
Ten days after solstice and it’s already staying light longer. Want to wish me a happy one-year-older? On January first, horses become one year older, regardless of their actual birthdate. Breed organizations do it for ease of record keeping, and I doubt the horses notice. As proud gray mare, that means I am a year … Read more
It’s the limbo week between Christmas and the New Year. The sunset of the year, if there is such a thing. Have you ever thought about how sunrise and sunset look alike? This photo is easy to place because Pikes Peak is on the western horizon here. But I know it’s an old photo because … Read more
Mister is trying out his new self-appointed position of Joy Police. Someone has got to put a stop to this chaos. This girl dog is relentless. It’s all the endless zooming and dawn bitey-face and tug whenever there is a loose end. Just when he thinks he might catch a nap, she climbs in … Read more
I didn’t know whether I should mention this. Is it too private to share? For questions of social etiquette, I defer to Mister. He has better manners than any of us. He ponders the question. Looks at her dragging a dog bed out the back door, and says Yeah, go ahead. Jolene’s an extrovert. She … Read more